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I remember like it happened yesterday. It was March 3rd and I was still sleeping at 11 AM. My mother's voice is still in my mind, "How can you sleep for 10 hours? Come on, wake up, we have work to do today."
I hesitantly woke up and went downstairs. A hot cup of coffee and a cream cheese bagel was waiting for me. "We have to go to the bank and deposit your tuition. We don't have much time left." I got accepted to Ryerson not so long ago and we needed to pay it in a couple of weeks. Well, those weeks passed quickly as summer usually does. That day was one of those days; you knew deep down that something is off. Way off.
"Don't forget to get the [[documents|The Bank]] or it'll all be for naught."<<set $afflictions = [] >>
<<set $inventory = [] >>
<<set $inventory.push(" [[My Wallet]]")>><<if $inventory.length == 0 >>I have nothing.<<else>>
<<print "I have " + $inventory + " with me.">>
<</if>>
<<back>>It's my sturdy old wallet. I have some cards, some cash and other useless stuff in it.
<<back>>[[Inventory]]<i>by Emre Can Olmez</i><<set $inventory.push(" [[Documents]]")>>"No worries; got 'em," I told my mother as I split the money to both of my pockets. This was a habit my dad taught me; never put all of your eggs in one basket. In this case, don't put all of your money in one place.
We arrived at the bank just before midday. It was a lazy wednesday and everyone already looked tired. That all changed when three guys with ski masks ran into the bank.
I heard a couple of gunshots and before I realized, I was covering while holding my mother.
"Stay down! We are nice people!"
Somehow these words felt intimidating more than they should've. One of the guys went straight to the lady behind the counter and held his gun to her head.
"What'cha looking at, boy?"
It turns out that I've been staring for a bit too long. "Sorry sir," I said "please don't hurt us."
"Keep ya head down and you'll still be alive."
I did exactly as he said.
<div style="text-align:right">[[Next|Aftermath]]</div>It felt like an eternity passed.
The robbers got what they wanted and left. I was cowering in fear the entire time and now, I wasn't able to find strength in my legs to stand up. I looked at my mother. She was shivering.
"Don't worry son, I'm fine."
<span id="ent1">As I looked around, I saw </span><span id="quest1-1"><<linkreplace "an elderly couple" t8n>><<replace "#ent1">><</replace>><<replace "#ent2">><</replace>><<replace "#quest1-2">><</replace>>As I looked around, I saw an elderly couple, lying in front of the counter.
They were lying still on the ground. I saw the elderly lady breathing but her husband wasn't breathing as far as I could tell. I had limited first aid experience and didn't want to harm anymore. But if I didn't [[do something|First Aid]], he might've actually died. It might be best to just [[leave him be|Security Guard]].
<</linkreplace>></span><span id="quest1-2"><span id="ent2">, lying in front of the counter and the </span><<linkreplace "security guard." t8n>><<replace "#quest1-1">><</replace>><<replace "#ent1">><</replace>><<replace "#ent2">><</replace>>As I looked around, I saw the security guard.
I ran to his side and as I feared, he was shot. Although the wound was on his leg, he already has lost a lot of blood and needed medical attention. I covered the wound and applied pressure by making a very tight know on it. He was cold and he was barely awake.
"Hey!" I slapped him. "Look at me. What's your name?"
'J... John. My... name is... Jo..."
"John, listen to me. You have to stay awake."
I had to keep the conversation going. The police were on their way so that [[hope|Police]] would keep him awake. Maybe talking about [[his family|Family]] would work.<</linkreplace>></span>I decided to do first aid.
I adjusted his head, neck and started doing CPR.
...
He didn't respond to my attempts. He was gone.
<<set $afflictions.push("Death-of-Elderly")>>
I placed her hand with his. Hopefully he'll get some peace from this.
<div style="text-align:right">[[Next|Arrival]]</div>I ultimately decided not to do anything to him.
While standing in front of the couple, I remembered gunshots. The security guy must've needed help.
I ran to his side and as I feared, he was shot. Although the wound was on his leg, he already has lost a lot of blood and needed medical attention. I covered the wound and applied pressure by making a very tight know on it. He was cold and he was barely awake.
"Hey!" I slapped him. "Look at me. What's your name?"
'J... John. My... name is... Jo..."
"John, listen to me. You have to stay awake."
I had to keep the conversation going. The police were on their way so that [[hope|Police]] would keep him awake. Maybe talking about [[his family|Family]] would work."Police and 911 will soon be here. You gotta hang on man. Just, hang on."
I didn't know if he heard my voice, he was barely awake to keep his eyes open. I hoped that he'd make it.
...
A couple of minutes later, I heard the sirens. "See," I told him, "they're here. They'll take care of you. Hang on."
There was no answer.
I shook him to wake him up. Maybe, I thought, he was just taking a nap. Maybe he will open his eyes and thank me for what I did. And I'd say "it's all you, I just helped."
<<set $afflictions.push("Death-of-John")>>
It didn't happen.
As the sirens drew closer, I closed my eyes. They weren't strong enough to hold my tears.
<div style="text-align:right">[[Next|Arrival2]]</div>"John... Do you have a wife? Kids?"
I thought it'd be best if I talk him about his loved ones. Maybe he'd find strength through them.
"Yes..." he answered. "...two kids."
"What are their names?"
"Ada... and Di... Diana."
"You'll see them again John, I promise you that. You'll get through this and they'll be right with you in the hospital bed. They'd bring you flowers and tell the story of you man. They'll tell how you stood your ground, how you hang on to your life for them. To see them again."
"I... I'd lo... love to see... them."
"You will my man. You'll see them again."
...
A couple of minutes later, I heard the sirens. "See," I told him, "they're here. They'll take care of you. Hang on."
"Is... my family... here?"
<<set $afflictions.push("John-Survived")>>
"They will be. They will see you, kiss you, heal you. Just hang on."
"Thank... you."
First responders carried John to the ambulance hastily, they started treating him instantly. After the doors closed, the ambulance sped up and was gone.
I was smiling with my bloodied clothes.
<div style="text-align:right">[[Next|Arrival3]]</div>...
Police arrived and started questioning everyone. I was waiting for my turn to tell what I witnessed. My mother was holding me and praying.
"You, please, come here." My mother acted with me. "Sorry ma'am, we have to do it alone for a while."
"Don't worry, I'll be back quickly."
My mother landed a kiss on my forehead.
...
"We know it's hard, especially when the people you try to help are already gone but be brave. You did what you could. Sometimes it's not enough. Sometimes it's never enough."
"We can wait a bit more if you're not feeling well." He continued.
"No, I'm fine. All I'd like to do is to get my mother home safely so, please ask."
"Ok. Let's start with who you are and why you're here."
"My name is <<textbox "$name" " ">>. I was here with my mother to pay my tuition. Then, this happened."
"Can you tell us what happened as much as you can remember?"
I told them everything I remembered.
"Do you remember anything out of the ordinary? Or something that caught your eye?"
I could try to remember and [[tell them about the people|People]] in the bank but I think they want to [[pinpoint the robbers|Robbers]]. Maybe focusing on them would help better....
Police arrived and started questioning everyone. I was waiting for my turn to tell what I witnessed. My mother was holding me and praying.
"You, please, come here." My mother acted with me. "Sorry ma'am, we have to do it alone for a while."
"Don't worry, I'll be back quickly."
My mother landed a kiss on my forehead.
...
"We know it's hard, especially when the people you try to help are already gone but be brave. You did what you could. Sometimes it's not enough. Sometimes it's never enough."
"We can wait a bit more if you're not feeling well." He continued.
"No, I'm fine. All I'd like to do is to get my mother home safely so, please ask."
"Ok. Let's start with who you are and why you're here."
"My name is <<textbox "$name" " ">>. I was here with my mother to pay my tuition. Then, this happened."
"Can you tell us what happened as much as you can remember?"
I told them everything I remembered.
"Do you remember anything out of the ordinary? Or something that caught your eye?"
I could try to remember and [[tell them about the people|People]] in the bank but I think they want to [[pinpoint the robbers|Robbers]]. Maybe focusing on them would help better....
Police arrived and started questioning everyone. I was waiting for my turn to tell what I witnessed. My mother was holding me and praying.
"You, please, come here." My mother acted with me. "Sorry ma'am, we have to do it alone for a while."
"Don't worry, I'll be back quickly."
My mother landed a kiss on my forehead.
...
"What you did there, is nothing short of heroic. I kow John, he is a brute with a heart of gold. Once he's out of the hospital, he'll return the favor."
"I'm glad that he's alive."
"I'm sure his family will be too."
"Ok. Let's start with who you are and why you're here." He continued.
"My name is <<textbox "$name" " ">>. I was here with my mother to pay my tuition. Then, this happened."
"Can you tell us what happened as much as you can remember?"
I told them everything I remembered.
"Do you remember anything out of the ordinary? Or something that caught your eye?"
I could try to remember and [[tell them about the people|People]] in the bank but I think they want to [[pinpoint the robbers|Robbers]]. Maybe focusing on them would help better."I remember that one of the customers inside the bank was tense. Everyone was the opposite around him, tired. Maybe that's why he stick out but I remember him. The guy in the blue shirt."
<<set $afflictions.push("Blue Shirt Guy")>>
"Ok. We know that the robbers were wearing ski masks but was there anything about them in particular? Like limping or simple details that would've been lost in the security footage?"
"I don't think so, they were very bland. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. Thank you for your cooperation. Can you tell your mom to come too, we need to ask the questions to her too."
"Sure."
<div style="text-align:right">[[Next|Closure]]</div>"One of the robbers talked to me because I was staring. He had a thick accent. Don't know where it's from but it's definitely not around here."
<<set $afflictions.push("Accent")>>
"Ok. Was there anything special about the customers? Like being tense for no reason or something fishy about them?"
"I don't remember, I wasn't paying attention to them. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. Thank you for your cooperation. Can you tell your mom to come too, we need to ask the questions to her too."
"Sure."
<div style="text-align:right">[[Next|Closure]]</div>My mother and I were released by the police soon after. In front of the bank, there were tens of reporters waiting to get details. We were approached by them.
"Hello, can you tell us what happened?"
<span id="quest1-1"><<linkreplace "We just want to go home, thank you." t8n>><<replace "#ent2">><</replace>><<replace "#quest1-2">><</replace>>"We just want to go home, thank you."
This answer didn't shut them down but that was the truth. We just wanted to go home. We didn't hear anything they shouted, at least I didn't. And we arrived home.
<div style="text-align:right">[[Next|Home Again]]</div>
<</linkreplace>></span><span id="quest1-2"><span id="ent2"> | </span><<linkreplace "We've been through enough, please leave us alone." t8n>><<replace "#quest1-1">><</replace>><<replace "#ent2">><</replace>>"We've been through enough, please leave us alone."
"Was it violent?"
"Can you tell us about the robbers?"
<<set $index = $afflictions.indexOf("Death-of-Elderly")>><<if $index == -1>><<else>>"We got information that somebody died, is that true?"<</if>><<set $index = $afflictions.indexOf("Death-of-John")>><<if $index == -1>><<else>>"We got information that somebody died, is that his blood?"<</if>><<set $index = $afflictions.indexOf("John-Survived")>><<if $index == -1>><<else>>"We got information that the security guy was fatally injured, is that his blood?"<</if>>
The questions were too loud. I wanted to get rid of them. But I stopped myself. That might've made things worse. I wanted those sons of bitches to be caught, not have glory or some glorified attention.
We left and soon, we were home. Again.
<div style="text-align:right">[[Next|Home Again]]</div><</linkreplace>></span>
My documents about the program. It contains details like my student number, bank account number for payments and more.
<<back>>When we got back, we went silent. We didn't want to talk or even think about what happened. My mother broke the silence.
"So... Are we going to try again tomorrow?"
<span id="quest1-1"><<linkreplace "Probably. But I'll go alone this time." t8n>><<replace "#ent2">><</replace>><<replace "#quest1-2">><</replace>>"Probably. But I'll go alone this time."
"Awww, you care about me that much? Don't worry," she put a kiss on my forehead, "tomorrow won't have carnage. I can promise that."
We both believed that lie.
<div style="text-align:right">[[Next|End]]</div>
<</linkreplace>></span><span id="quest1-2"><span id="ent2"> | </span><<linkreplace "I don't know. Maybe? We need to pay that tuition, don't we?" t8n>><<replace "#quest1-1">><</replace>><<replace "#ent2">><</replace>>"I don't know. Maybe? We need to pay that tuition, don't we?"
"Yes. And afterwards, we're going to have pizza. I wanted to eat at Louie's for a long time."
"Aren't you having a diet?"
"I think I can skip for one day. I mean, I should, after what happened today."
"Don't worry, tomorrow will be completely a new day."
<div style="text-align:right">[[Next|End]]</div><</linkreplace>></span>
Tomorrow passed by, and the day after. And the month. I graduated my post-grad program and got a job. My mother moved to my house and we're living peacefully ever since.
It was a day from hell, but it made me realize that heaven is not that far.
<div style="text-align:center"><b><i>THE END</i></b></div>